Exercising apparatus



(No Model.)

W. MADSEN. EXERCISING APPARATUS.

Patented July 5, 1892.

rma/s UNTTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

VILLIAM MADSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXERCISING APPARATUS.

SPLECIFICATIONA forming part of Letters Patent N0. 478,166, dated July5, 1892. Application tiled February l0, 1892. Serial No. 420.938. (Nomodel.)

Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Exercising Apparatus, of

which I do declare the following to be a full,-

clear; and exact description, reference being had to theY accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this speciiication.

My invention consistsin the novel features of construction hereinafterdescribed, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure l is a View in front elevation of an apparatus embodying myinvention, the particular form of apparatus shown in this figure beingespecially designed for strengthening more particularly the abdominalmuscles. Fig. 2 is aview in vertical section of a portion of theapparatus illustrated inl Fig. 1, the saddle being shown in sideelevation. Fig. 3 is a View in sideelevatio'n illustrating how myapparatus may be applied for strengthening the muscles of the legs andfeet. Fig. 4 is a further modified form of the apparatus, designed moreparticularly for correcting deformities of the ankles. Fig. 5 is adetail side View of part of the spindl f. Y

Referring to the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l, A designates apedestal, from which rises an adjustable spindle B, carrying at itsupper end a spider-frame C, the arms of which are connected to thebearing-base D. This bearing-base D is perforated to receive a nut E,the flange e of which is suitably fastened to the bearing-base, andthrough this nut passes a screw-spindle F, the upper end of which isfurnished with a ball f, over which sets the socket G, the ball andsocket being held together by a perforated plate g, fastened to thesocket G. The socket G is secured to thevunder side of the rolling plateH, to the upper face of which is secured a bearing-plate K, that isprovided with a seat or perforation k to receive the pivot-pin l,projecting from the pivot-plate L, that is attached to the under side ofthe saddle M. The bearing-plate K is preferably formed with anupwardly-extending flange k', Vupon which the under face of thepivot-plate L will be supported. The saddle M `may be of any convenientshape, but is preferably formed as shown-that is to say, With the frontand rear elevated portions-to more securely seat the user during theexercising operation.

I/Vhen the apparatusis designed for developin g thebody-muscles, andmore particularly the abdominal muscles, it will preferably be placedbetween vvertical bars O, that can be conveniently grasped by the userin order not only to better steady himself and direct the rollingmovement of the apparatus, but also to enable him to maintain the upperportion of the body in somewhat rigid position, with the chest thrownwell forward, so that by shifting the lower portion of the body arolling movement of theplate H upon the bearing-base is effected, thusbringing into play more particularly the various abdominal' muscles.inasmuch as the saddle and the rolling plate H are sustained by theball-and-socket support above described, it is manifest that an easyrolling movement of the plate H upon the bearing-base D can be secured,and by adjusting the spindle F upward or downward within the socket E(its position being secured by thelock-nut F).

the degree of inclination of the rolling plate H, and consequently ofthe saddle M, can be varied, as desired, with a corresponding variationin the work thrown upon the muscles. inasmuch as the rolling movement ofthe plate H upon the base D is dependent upon the user of the apparatus,it is manifest that the muscles to be developed Will be better called inplay than would be possible if the rolling movement of the plate wereeffected by extraneous force. Moreover, the user is enabled with anapparatus suoli asI have above described and which is dependent upon hisown movements to vary the direcvtion of, the rolling movement and modifyit,

as may be desired.

My object in mountingthe saddle M in pivotal fashion'upon the rollingplate H is to compensate for the rotative or slowly-advancing movementdue to the fact that the rolling plate H is operating at an angle to thebearing-base D; but manifestly when the saddle is thus pivotallysustained upon the rolling plate H the user may maintain a uniformfrontage, notwithstanding 'the rotative -or slowly-advancing movement ofthe roll-ing plate H, since the pivotal relation of the saddle to therolling plate permits a slight slip of these parts with respect to eachother to compensate for the rotating or advancing movement of therolling plate.

In the modified embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3 themechanism will be the same as that hereinbefore described, with theexception that instead of a saddle M a foot-plate N will be employed,the foot-- plate illustrated in such view of the drawings having a flatupper surface. In the use of this form of the invention, which isespecially designed for developing the muscles of the feet and legs, theuser will place Vhis feet squarely upon the upper face of the foot-plateN, and by imparting a rolling movement to this plate and to the rollingplate II beneath it strains will be thrown upon the muscles of the legsand feet as the position of the foot-plate is shifted, therebyeffectively serving to bring such muscles into play. The foot-plate N isprovided upon its under side with a pivot-plate L, the same illustratedin Fig. 2 of the drawings, and in like manner supported upon arest-plate K, thatis secured to the rolling plate Il. I have not deemedit necessary to illustrate in detail the ball-andsocket mechanism forsustaining the rolling plate nor to illustrate in full the bearing-baseD, as these parts will be, identical with the construction hereinbeforedescribed.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. et the partsare the same in construction as hercinbefore described with theexception that the l`ootplate N has a conical upper surface. This formof the invention is more especially designed for use where there is atendency toward weak ankles, and in practice the user will place hisfeet upon opposite sides of the cone and will then impart a rollingmovementto the rolling plate II and the foot-plate l thereby bringinginto play the various muscles of the feet and legs, particularly themuscles of the ankle, by reason of the peculiar position in which thefeet are sustained on account of the shape of the foot-plate. Thespindle B, besides being vertically adjustable, is by preference alsoconstructed in such manner that the bearing base can be tipped orinclined at an angle, the purpose of such construction being to enablecertain m usclcs to be subjected to greater exercise or strain thanothers. In the drawings I have shown the spindle B as formed ofsections, the abutting ends of which are provided with notched faces I),held together by adjusting-bolt b', and it is obvious that by this meansthe adjustment of the bearingplate D to any desired angle can be readilyeffected. lVhen the bearing-plateis thus adjusted, the lock-nut b2 uponthe lower end of the screw-spindle B will be set tightly against the nutthrough which the screw-spindle passes, thereby holding this spindlesecurely against rotation.

It will be seen that in the several modified forms of my invention aboveillustrated a rest is provided whereon the weight of the user of theapparatus will be exerted-allai is to say, in the construction shown inFig. l the saddle constitutes a rest to sustain the entire body ot' theuser, and in Figs. 3 and Althe foot-plates constitute rests forsustaining the users feet.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an exercising apparatus, .the combination, with a suitable rest,of a universal joint for supporting said rest and a bearingbase whereonsaid part may roll, substantially as described.

2. In an exercising apparatus, the combination, with a suitable rest, ofa ball-andsocket support for said rest and a bearingbase whereby saidrest may be sustained as a rolling movement is given thereto,substantiallyas described.

In an exercising apparatus, the combination, with a suitable rest, of abearing-base and a universal joint for supporting said rest and meansfor vertically adj usting said universal joint, substantially asdescribed.

el. In an exercising apparatus, the combination, with a suitable rest,of a bearing-base whereby said rest is sustained as a rolling movementis imparted thereto, a screw-spindle F, provided with a ball, and asocket suitably connected with the rest for receivingl said ball of thespindle, substantially as described.

5. In an exercising apparatus, the combination, with a rest, of arolling plate to which said rest is loosely connected, a bearing-basewhereon said rolling plate may travel, and a universal joint forsustaining said rolling plate, substantially as described. (5. In anexercising apparatus, the combination, with a rest, of a rolling plateto which said rest is loosely connected, a bearing-base whereon saidrolling plate may travel, and a universal joint for sustaining said,rolling plate, and suitable devices adapted to be grasped by the user,substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a foot-plate having a tapering upper surface,of a universal joint for sustaining said footplate, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination of a foot-plate having a tapering upper surface, abearing-base for supporting the foot-plate during the rolling movement,and a universal joint for sustaining said foot-plate, substantially asdescribed.

9. In an exercising apparatus, the combination, with a pedestal A, of arest, a universal joint for supporting said rest, and an adjustablespindle or support whereby said rest can be adjusted at any desiredangle, substantially as described.

IVILLIAM MADSEN.

lVi tnesses J. CARPENTER, FRED GERLAcI-I.

ICO

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